Unit Attachment and Alignment Important

From the NMC Newsletter "Udder Topics", June 1996

The way milking units are attached to cows influences milking performance and efficiency. The liner stems (short milk tubes) should be bent over the claw ferrule to prevent air leakage into the claw. As individual teatcups are attached, the teatcup assembly is raised up toward the teat and the liner stem is straightened out to minimize air admission into the system. Proper unit attachment will ensure that cows are not disturbed by excessive air admission noise during unit attachment, and that teatcups sit firmly on the teats.

Before the milker moves away from the cow, the units should be adjusted under the cow. The goal is to have the outlet of the claw pointed forward toward the cow's head in most conventional systems, or directly out between the legs in a parallel parlor. With most conventional units, the claw outlet should be pointed in a slightly downward direction to facilitate milk flow into the milk hose and away from the cow. In stall barn milking systems, the milk hose and long pulse tubes should come up to the line directly behind the cow's "armpit" to allow the best possible unit adjustment. Proper unit adjustment will minimize liner squawks, especially toward the end of milking, and contribute to good overall "milkability".

Source: 1996 National Mastitis Council Annual Meeting Proceedings, pg 235

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